Why Is It Important To Improve Your Speed?

Is having a good speed important for health?

The importance of speed for health is nuanced. Dr. Andy Gaplin mentioned the topic and noted that pure speed isn’t a factor most people need to vigorously test unless they are high-performance athletes, where speed might be directly quantifiable and relevant for their specific sports. For general health purposes, he suggested that there might be other metrics that are more significant for the average person.^{1, 2}

Speed of movement becomes particularly relevant when considering specific types of movements or exercises. In sports science, different types of speed such as acceleration, maximum speed, and speed endurance are recognized for their particular importance in certain sports.³

From a biomechanical perspective, increases in walking or running speed lead to changes in joint excursions, ground reaction forces, and patterns of muscle activity, which may have significant implications for health and the functioning of the musculoskeletal system.⁴

In addition to sports performance, the ability to generate force and move at increased speeds quickly can have functional implications, especially as one ages. Quick, forceful movements are often necessary for activities of daily living and for preventing falls or maintaining mobility.

How to work on your speed?

Here are some recommendations:

1) It is important to differentiate between training for speed as an athlete, where it is an essential component of sports performance, and including some elements of speed in general physical activity for health benefits.

2) Speed-related training should be approached cautiously, considering individual fitness levels, to prevent injury and ensure health benefits without undue stress on the body.